Director Ray Scott Crawford likes to describe the June musical production he’s introducing to audiences at Canterbury Summer Theatre in Michigan City as “akin to one big wedding reception,” primarily due to the dozens of featured song selections.
“Love is a Many Splintered Thing,” running June 19-29 with performances 2 p.m. Wednesdays and 7 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays, is a two-hour romp of romance and comedy according to Crawford.
Crawford is artistic director for the 140-seat theater in Michigan City beginning its 56th season.
“We are always looking for fresh and new musicals, and this revue of love songs seemed like a good fit for us, and it’s a small cast,” Crawford said.
“I started with Canterbury in 1982 as an actor in the ‘Pirates of Penzance’ cast as the Major General, and with the exception of a few years when I moved down to Louisiana, I’ve been with Canterbury consistently for 39 years.”
Written by Dorothy Marcic with musical arrangements by Tony Award-winning actor Hinton Battle, Crawford said “Love is a Many Splintered Thing” is a roller coaster musical exploration of relationships, designed as a musical revue of six characters whose overlapping stories are told through a fun, musical filter of popular songs from the 1950s, ′60s, ′70s and ′80s.
“I think of this as a stage journey that begins with the high school story of these characters and moves through adulthood, following both friends and relationships,” Crawford said.
He said the choreography of Elena Farley helps move the plot along for transitions. Canterbury Music Director John Berst, a faculty member of the University of Miami musical theater training program, has returned for his fifth Canterbury season and will play piano.
“The recognizable hits are quickly embraced by the audience, with songs from everyone such as Neil Diamond to Cher to Connie Francis and Elton John, Liza Minnelli and many others,” Crawford said.
Some of his own favorite songs highlighted include “ Love is in the Air,” “I Think I Love You,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Hooked on a Feeling,” “The Look of Love,” “Dizzy,” “Lady Willpower,” “Maybe this Time,” “The Wanderer,” “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” “Baby Come Back” and “Everlasting Love,” among others.
The cast features J. Cole Becton, Landon Brewer, Noah Bryant, Elena Farley, Cherilyn Percy and Angel Purl, whom are all newcomers to Canterbury for the 2024 season.
Crawford said the venue in Michigan City is unique because the Canterbury Resident Company is comprised of theater artists hired from throughout the country each summer and has produced a season of musicals and plays in downtown Michigan City since 1969.
“Including myself, we have a company of 15 artists this year, and they hail from Texas, Ohio, Louisiana and Michigan, as well as cities like Boston and Miami,” Crawford said.
“This team of talents is provided housing throughout the summer courtesy of our theater guild members.”
Crawford and longtime Canterbury Theatre Associate Artistic Director David Graham work with Canterbury Guild members to select the five featured mainstage productions each season.
“At Canterbury’s start, the theater group was called the Festival Players Guild and was based at the vacant St. John’s Catholic Church at 9th and Franklin streets when the theatre launched in 1969,” Crawford said.
“It was 1997 that was the transitional year, and we moved to our current stage space here at 807 Franklin St. address and did our first performances in the latter part of 1998.”
Crawford said Canterbury Summer Theatre is hailed as “one of the Midwest’s oldest professional summer companies,” all produced under the umbrella of the Canterbury Guild as a nonprofit arts organization, which also manages the Canterbury Winter Arts Series.
Philip Potempa is a freelance reporter for The Post-Tribune.
‘Love is a Many Splintered Thing’
When: June 19-29
Where: Canterbury Summer Theatre, 807 Franklin St., Michigan City
Cost: $20 or 18 for seniors 62 and older and $10 for students and military
Information: 219-874-4269; canterburytheatre.org